A small slip of a girl held the hollow, white ball as reverently as an egg in the palm of her hand. Then with a slice she spun it towards her opponent. In the semi-finals for the girls U15 age group, Kathleen Cai of Team Northwest Territories played Hanna Cho of Fairbanks. At the adjacent table, Trudy Quanaq and Lalita Atatahak, both of Team Nunavut played. At Wasilla Middle School, four blue-surfaced tables were set up in the gym with cording around them to designate the playing areas. Spectators sat on purple bleacher benches, encouraging the players. Players conferred with coaches between sets, leaning over the cording like boxers in a ring. Games were fast-paced and focused. A player returned a ball that was well off the table, but in the next play, stepped aside to let the hollow white ball hit the ground. The official raised a hand indicating a score. At the next table, a player swiped hard, but met only air. Then a set of soft volleys turned to an exchange of hard shots until it ended in a net ball. In table tennis, a player wins when they reach 11 points, if they are at least two points ahead. Up to five sets may need to be played before a winner is called. “It’s a mental game”, quipped one spectator. “Look, he’s going for the downspin,” said another. “You are analyzing your opponent,” said Bill Cotton, Mission Staff for Team Alaska and former table tennis coach. “But the mental part is really in keeping control – you miss a ball, you go on, don’t let it get to you, focus on the next move.” Hannah Cho and Trudy Quanaq won their respective semi-finals and went on to compete for the gold, with Team Nunavut pulling ahead in three of five close matches. Kathleen Cai of Team Northwest Territories and Lalita Atatahak of Team Nunavut competed for the bronze, with Team Northwest Territories gaining the bronze ulu in three matches. The boys and girls that played in the singles events will now be prepping for the doubles and team events taking place later in the week. We hope you’ll head out to root for them and ask them about their mental strategies!

The rink’s plexiglass muffled the sounds of action on the ice. The team of four were checking out the ice conditions on the sheet (playing field) in front them. Skips (team captains) are calling the shots for the lead (the athlete who throws the first rock) and the two sweepers on how best to aim the rock as it heads toward the house (target). Fans in the grandstand watch quietly until the shot reaches the house to shout their cheers, horns, or bells break the silence on a great play. What is a shot? A shot is made by sliding a granite curling stone, aka rocks, down a sheet of ice to the house. On the ice, players concentrate on the communication from the skip while the crowd buzzes behind them. Like baseball, each team has their hand signals to supplement calls from the house to the hack. The hack is the foot hold on the end of the ice surface from which the stone is delivered. The Nunavut girls team had just finished their match and were resting in the bleachers watching other teams in competition. Three of the four player team and their coach shared how they began playing curling. Arianna Atienza and Sophia MacDonald started curling after attending bonspiels (curling competitions) when their sisters were playing. Atienza and MacDonald recruited their friend, Naja Ejesiak to join them. Atienza is the veteran who started curling in 2018. She has held positions of lead, second, and third positions. With her experience, she is now the skip. When asked how their impression of curling changed from before they played to now, Atienza says, “There’s a lot more thinking now than when I was ten!”. Coach Gustafson pointed out that there’s also a different kind of pressure on the skip than on the players at the front end. “You also get to talk to your teammates more on the front end, than when you're on the back end”, Atienza acknowledged. Before she started curling, Naja Ejesiak thought it would be easier than it is. “Sweeping is HARD!”, she said. Sophia MacDonald wholeheartedly agreed. “You have to push really hard on the ice. You have to learn the footwork. There’s a lot of multi-tasking!”, said MacDonald. Ejesiak said that even though it’s physically hard work to sweep, she really likes the challenge of it all. Some of the subtleties of curling could be lost on the casual observer. Players must learn to read the “curl of the ice”. Watching how the rock moves down the sheet by the other team can provide some insights on how best to aim the rock, how "heavy" or "light" to throw the rock, how much sweeping to do, and where to position the rock in, or near, the house. Communication amongst team members is an essential part of the sport. According to the Nunavut girls team, reliance on the team’s skip and trust in the directions provided by the skip, helps to keep the team unified. MacDonald said, “You really have to trust each other. If the skip calls the shot and you don’t trust it, that could change the throw.” Atienza agreed and said that for their team, “We’re all friends. We have that trust for each other.” MacDonald and Ejesiak agreed. This circle of friends is IN THE HOUSE.

On a blustery Tuesday morning, fans and athletes funneled into the Brett Memorial Ice Arena for a match-up of female U19 hockey, Team Alaska versus Team Nunavut. All around the rink, fans of Team Alaska waved flags, rang cowbells, and shouted encouragement. Not to be outdone, the Nunavut contingent of athletes, fans, and family banged their feet on the bleachers, waved flags, and blew noisemakers. The game unfolded with a showcase of strategy and hockey prowess. The first period set the stage for an intense showdown, with both Alaska and Nunavut displaying exceptional skill and coordination on the ice. The defensive maneuvers and goal-tending of both teams kept the score sheet clean, creating an air of anticipation for the forthcoming periods. The excitement reached its peak in the second period, as Alaska's Aliana Burnside opened the scoring with a remarkable goal, finding the back of the net with 16:04 left in the second period. Burnside's precise shot and deft maneuvering brought the crowd to its feet. Alaska's Kendall Ketchum added to the lead with a goal at the 9:01 making the score 2-0. As the period drew to a close, Ketchum struck again with an impressive goal, leaving only 24 seconds on the clock. The quick succession of goals by Alaska highlighted their offensive chops. The score at the end of the second period was 3-0 in favor of Alaska. As the game went into the third period, Nunavut had a challenging deficit they were not able to overcome. Aliana Burnside netted her second goal with just 4:15 left on the clock, extending the lead for Alaska 4-0. Grace White sealed the victory for Alaska with a goal at the 3:26 mark, and a 5-0 win. As the final buzzer rang, celebrations from Alaska fans shook the rafters.

At the Kincaid park winter recreation area in Anchorage, the biathlon snowshoe and ski event on Tuesday was a beautiful sight. Teams begin by stationing at their zones, zeroing in on their targets. Zeroing in is preparation for a biathlon by warming up and practicing shooting with a rifle at the target, in order to estimate wind direction and become mentally ready to compete. One of the biathlon coaches, Kate, explained "All the kids on snowshoes have to wear soft-sole mukluks, and most of these mukluks have been hand sown by family or passed down amongst athletes in the villages". She also commented that this year, all teams were using the same wax. "It's an international initiative from the International Biathlon Union to incorporate an environmental change". With this new information to help me grasp a better understanding of the sport, I set out to watch the first series of races. Despite the chill, the teams chattered excitedly amongst themselves. The announcer called out a 5 minute warning followed by a run down of how the event would go: 3 runs, 2 shots. Once all participants got their timing chip, (an anklet that times their finish time and penalty laps) it was time for the athletes to take their places at the starting line. With calculated steps and a steady pace the racers started off at 15 second intervals, making their way down the track and around, keeping a steady pace so as not to exhaust themselves. It wasn’t long before the first runners approached the shooting range. Down they went on a pad, and fire their rifles, the sound of pellets hitting each target echoing over the crowd of spectators. When they finished their shots, they jumped back to action and made their way down the raceway yet again. After the first track, the racers have two more tracks to go, and only one more opportunity to shoot. Fifteen minutes in,each athlete dived in for their second shot. The drill began again: drop to the mat, set their mark, fire, jump back into action to sprint down the course for their last run. In the last stretch, the crowd cheered for the athletes as they made the last bend. "LETS GO!" was heard from every corner as one after the other, athletes made their way closer to the finish line. With a final push, they crossed over the finish line and dropped into the snow to cool off after their amazing race. Great job to all the snowshoers! After an intermission, the biathlon sprint skiers begin zeroing, which is a time for them to focus on their targets and get some last minute ski practice in. Sprint Ski has 2 courses: a purple/orange course for U16 that spans 4 km/2.4mi, and a red course for U18 that spans 6 km/3.7mi. Five minutes before line up, all participants in the biathlon ski were called to claim their chip. As chips were claimed, each racer made their way to the starting line. The closer the clock ticked toward the race start, the more determined each athlete looked. Then, at 15 second intervals athletes started their race of 3 laps and 2 shots, one by one, crossing the starting line with enthusiasm and speed. The race was underway! As the first group came down fast on the course, ski poles up, and arms to chest, they whipped by in a flurry of snow and cheers. Seven minutes into the race, the first skiers reached their rifles, got to their mat, and fired! Every point the competitors earn is vital. Any missed target earns them a penalty lap. Participants slung their seven to ten pound rifles to their backs and breezed into their second lap. When the third and final lap started, racers were able to leave rifles on their hooks and speed off unencumbered. The crowd cheered and cowbells raised up a storm when the skiers were a few bends away from the finish line! U16 skiers zoomed across the finish line, sliding into the snow for sweet cool relief from a strenuous race across the course. As they caught their breath, the second place skier from Team Alaska playfully commented to Team Yukon who came in first, "slow down out there for the rest of us, eh?" It didn’t take long for the U18 skiers to start crossing the finish line, heaving sighs of relief as they were able to lie down in the snow to rest. Racer after racer crossed the finish line to the calls of encouragement from family, friends, and teammates. Although exhausted from their sprint, they chatted cheerfully and congratulated each other on a race well done.

Team Nunavut hails from Canada and comprises the largest and newest territory of Canada. Nunavut, which means “our land,” was annexed from the Northwest Territories in 1999. This year, the 297 Nunavut participants in the 2024 Arctic Winter Games include athletes, coaches, managers, youth ambassadors, cultural performers, and mission staff. They will be representing Nunavut in 13 sports including hockey, table tennis, short track speed skating, figure skating, badminton, basketball, volleyball, arctic sports, dene games, futsal, wrestling, curling, and cross-country skiing. During the opening ceremonies, badminton athlete Iris Sowdluapik was flag bearer for Team Nunavut. Iris comes from Pangnirtung and has competed several times in major games. She earned the bronze medal in doubles at the 2023 Arctic Winter Games and the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. She is a dedicated athlete, mentor, and coach to younger youth in her community. She believes in giving back to her community and the sport she loves so much. The Youth Ambassadors joining Team Nunavut this year represent some of the best young leaders in the region. Youth Ambassadors hosting the Nunavut pop-up booth will offer giveaways and activities such as trivia and syllabic writing, as well as present an Arctic Sports/Inuit Games demonstration. Make sure you stop by to see what they have in store - their booth time and locations will be released in Ulu News tomorrow, March 14. These youth participated in training sessions in person and online in preparation for volunteering with the Host Society, and have trained in several skills, such as Marketing, Event Services, and Volunteer Services. The expertise they gain as Ambassadors to the Games help them develop irreplaceable talents and abilities and gain confidence to represent Nunavut and their people. The Team Nunavut Pin Set is made up of six pieces which fit together as a group of family and friends. These characters are gathered around the qulliq (oil lamp) listening to traditional stories; stories which always have a meaning and moral to take away. The set was created and is being supplied by The Pin People, Laurie Artiss Limited. Make sure you get the complete set! We at the Ulu News look forward to seeing what these athletes and young people have to offer. We can’t wait to see how they do. Naghe nduniyu (Welcome) to the Mat-Su Valley, Team Nunavut!

With so many northern cultures from around the world attending the Arctic Winter Games, there are a unique array of languages that they have brought with them. While most teams do speak English, it isn't their only language. Futsal has some basic terms that are commonly said while playing: Ball - This means you're asking for the ball to be passed to you. It’s like signaling to your teammate that you’re open. Pass - Similar to asking for the ball, it's a request to have the ball kicked to you. It’s another way to let teammates know you’re in a good strategic position. Drop - This term is used when you want to pass the ball back to a teammate, usually towards your own goal to regroup or plan a new attack.. Shot/Shoot - You use this to encourage a teammate to take a chance and kick the ball towards the goal with the aim of scoring. Shoot and shot are used interchangeably *Some of these terms are the same across languages. Words are typed in the English alphabet for easy reading for everybody. Some words are unknown and these may not be official translations of words. Team Sápmi speaks mainly in Norwegian as well as the occasional native Sápmi language: (When I was asking the coach for a translation she said I was giving up their secrets) Team Nunavut mainly uses English while playing futsal but a coach was able to translate some words into Inuktitut: One of Team Yukon’s players speaks German: Team NorthWest Territories has a player who speaks French: Almost every member of Team Alberta North speaks a different language from Spanish to Arabic: This blend of languages and cultures at the Arctic Winter Games highlights the beautiful ways sports can bring people together, bridging differences with a common love for the game.

Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) is the most northerly of jurisdictions involved in the Arctic Winter Games. They have been participating since 1990, and hosted the Games in 2002 and 2016. “The best I ever coached was Vittus Olsen, who won gold in snowboarding in the last [2023] Arctic Winter Games,” said Svend Lynge Larson, who helps with the team. “But he is too old to participate this time.” This year, they have a contingent of 65, including coaches and assistants. Of these, four boys are participating in the snowboard events, ages 12, 13, 14, and 15. “The kids are really enjoying it,” he said. “I don’t think any of them have been to the Arctic Winter Games before.” Although Kalaallit Nunaat is Danish, most of the people have Inuit heritage. They are proud of their culture and language, which is different from Danish. Some words are similar to words that people here would know, such as Qujanaq, “Thank you”, which sounds very similar to the Yup’ik “Quyana”. Alaskans would recognize some of their lived experience as well. There aren’t many roads, and you often have to get around by boat, plane, or Skidoo. And, said Larson, “There are some people that have to be exactly on time, but we operate around sila, the weather. We have clothes for the weather and carry a wind jacket because it can change suddenly.” If you’ve traveled much around Alaska, you’ll recognize this as a version of “The plane will fly. Weather dependent.” Their weather, however, is changing. “We have rain when we used to have snow. We can only train for two months when we used to train for four. We can’t ski until mid-February.” So perhaps we’ll see more of our friends from Kalaallit Nunaat; maybe they will come here more often to train! Asked what they would like to see before leaving, “Moose,” said Larson. “We have caribou, but we’ve never seen a moose before. The kids would really like to see one.” Next time you see Team Kalaallit Nunaat in their distinctive red jackets, try out a happy “Ullaq nuanneq” (“Good day”), and if they respond with qujanaq, you can smile and say “illilla” (“you’re welcome”).

As AC/DC’s Shoot to Thrill blared over the loudspeaker Team Nunavut and Team Alaska’s U15 Men’s teams took to the ice greeted by the shouts of excited fans, athletes, and families. Prior to the puck drop, I spoke with Robin Ouellette, a retired teacher from Machetanz Elementary who showed up at the game to cheer on her former student, #35 Torsten Decovich. “I am super excited to be here to support a former Bear Cub” Robin said. The first period set the stage for an intense showdown, with Team Alaska dominating from the first whistle, displaying exceptional skill and coordination on the ice. The defensive maneuvers and goaltending of both teams kept the score close. With 11:29 left in the first period, Asher Roy scored the first goal for Team Alaska, opening the scoring. After the first period, the score was Alaska 1 Nunavut 0, despite the shots on goal being 13-1 in favor of Alaska, the Nunavut goalie did everything –including standing on his head– to keep the puck out of his net. As the second period began, the scoring started as soon as the puck hit the ice and with 16:50 left in the second period Ryaln McIlroy extended the lead to 2-0 for Team Alaska. Team Alaska struck just moments later with 15:31 left in the second period with a goal from Patrick Forestal scores, making the score 3-0 for Team Alaska. Team Alaska further extended the score with 10:53 left in the second period on a goal from Isaiah Gonzalez scored, increasing Alaska's lead to 4-0 and moments later at 10:46 of the second period Roman Marcotte scored on an unassisted breakaway, making it 5-0 in favor of Team Alaska. Cooper Circousta scored from an impossible angle from behind the net with 4:26 left in the second period, contributing Alaska's fifth goal of the high octane period. As the clock ran down to 10 seconds, Isaiah Gonzalez scored his second goal of the game, bringing the lead up to 7-0 for Team Alaska. Despite a shot-on-goal differential now at 50 shots to 3 and Alaska dominating the game, Nunavut fans were not ruffled. They faithfully clapped noisemakers, waved flags, and stomped their feet trying to gain momentum for their squad. One fan shared “Go Nunavut”! The third period got chippy with plenty of penalties and some harsh warnings from the refs to both teams. With 7:23 left in the third period Nunavut finally broke through and shored off a rebound from the goalies' pads. As the final horn rang overhead the score read Team Alaska 7 Team Nunavut 1 and shots were 64 to 7 in favor of Alaska.

The 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games hosted several distinguished guests, but none as esteemed as Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon. Her excellency holds the notable distinction of being Canada's first Indigenous Governor General, assuming office in July of 2021. As an Inuk woman from Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik, Quebec, the Governor General’s political career has been defined by her unwavering dedication to Indigenous and Arctic issues. She was the first Inuk to hold an ambassadorial position and was pivotal in championing the establishment of the Arctic Council. This intergovernmental forum tackles pressing Arctic challenges, mirroring the Games' ethos of fostering collaboration among Arctic nations. Her Excellency Mary Simon traveled to Alaska March ninth through the twelfth at the request of The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. During her trip, the Governor General attended sporting events, met with Canadian athletes, and spoke at Opening Ceremonies. She delivered a moving speech that highlighted the unique and important nature of the Arctic Winter Games, saying the Games “bring people together to celebrate cooperation and cultural exchange. They give us an opportunity to learn from one another, understand each other, and work together to address common challenges that face the arctic region”. Ms. Simon has helped bring Arctic issues to an international stage throughout her career and she applauded the Arctic Winter Games’ ability to “show the entire world how accomplished, diverse and united the Northern peoples are.” Her Excellency highlighted an Inuktitut word that embodies the tenacity of the games participants and was met with thunderous applause. Governor General defined the word, Ajuinata, sharing that “it means preserving in the face of obstacles, it means never to give up. You never gave up as you worked tirelessly honing your skills, and pushing the boundaries of what you thought possible to get here so we will never give up as a people in the circumpolar north”. Her Excellency has dedicated her career to the betterment of the North and it was an honor to hear her speak. In Alaska our state motto is “North to the Future”. With advocates like Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon and this year’s hardworking participants, the future of the North is in great hands

The gym was alive with the sounds of competition. The squeak of shoes pivoting on the floor, the twang of a hit to the shuttlecock, the swish of racquets. With the sound of spectators cheering and officials calling the serves, badminton got underway at Colony High School. There were six courts in play at the singles event on Tuesday afternoon. I had a clear site line to three of the six courts from the upper level viewing area. My head swung from side to side to keep up with three games, like a kitty in the window watching a busy bird feeder. The badminton competition was exciting to take in. It was humbling to think of the months of training that was now being put to the test in a best of three sets. Enthusiasm and anticipation permeated the gym. Players had warm up rallies to test each other out before the match, then officials explained the coin toss rules. Finally the games began. Players showcased their speed, agility, and coordination in fast paced sets. I admired the energy of the new players with their exciting rallies and the way more experienced players used a mix of shots to keep each other hopping. They tested each other with strategic forehands, backhands, slice touch, and smashes in some exciting rallies. Unique serving styles were on display, designed to catch the competition off-guard. And coaches, well, they were mostly wrapped around their chairs at the back of the courts watching the play unfold. There was a high level of sportsmanship on and off the courts. The players were gracious with their wins and defeats. There is going to be more Badminton action this week at the Eklutna 1/Colony High School. Visit awg2024.org/attend or awg2024.gems.pro to find more schedule information. Ida Edwards (she/her) is a reporter with the 2024 ULU News. She is music teacher in Athabasca, Alberta. Follow Ida on Facebook:www.facebook.com/ida.edwards.50

U18F volleyball started the day off strong with an 8:00 a.m. game in the Nuutah 2 (Palmer Junior Middle School) volleyball court. After several long volleys, the Alberta North girls defeated the Northwest Territories girls 50 to 31. Players on both teams strategized in the first and second sets. They hustled, at times following the ball all the way into the sidelines on a skid. Some hard hitting, upbeat, and energetic ladies make up both of these fabulous teams. Khaylle Sarte and her Team Nunavut teammates sat on the bleachers in the Nuutah 2 - PJMS gym. They were there to observe their competition after playing for Nunavut against Alaska . Khaylle Sarte reported, “We lost, but it was a good game. It was our first match so we were everywhere. But we built more confidence and got comfortable once we were on the court for a while. This is my second year and also my last year [playing for the Arctic Winter Games],” Khaylle emphasized. “Making friends is a big part of AWG”. She turned to teammate Kyana Idlout and asked her what she had learned. Kyana said “[it’s important] not to overthink a game, to have fun, and to play hard!” Khaylle added “This is a place to come together and learn new things about other cultures.” The spectators of the 9:30 a.m. U18F game between Yukon and Alberta North were celebratory, erupting in cheers, clapping, and shaking loud wooden noisemakers in response to the game's action. The scores were close as the game began, but after narrowly winning the first set, Alberta North changed tactics. They began gently tipping the ball into open spots on Yukon’s court. They did this more than once, after feigning a hard spike in the other direction. This strategy proved successful and won the game for Alberta North 40 to 20. The U18M Team Nunavut arrived as a group. Dustin Martin relayed, “Our first game is at 1:30 versus Alaska. This is my first year playing volleyball and my first Arctic Winter Games. I’ve enjoyed bonding with my team, having fun, and playing against new players that I haven’t played before.” Nearby, teammate Tashinga Chakonza joined in: “I’ve been playing 5 years, this is my 2nd AWG. Last year I went out for basketball, this year for volleyball. I’ve learned from competing at the AWG that kids my age are the same, even when they’re from somewhere else.”” The first couple players for Team Alaska arrived early. Avei Turaifale has been playing volleyball for 5 years. “This is my freshman year,” said Avei, “and my first Arctic Winter Games.” He shared that it has been surprising to see that people from other teams care for him and show him the same respect he has back home. “I thought it would be awkward. We’re from all different parts of the world. But, I’ve learned we’re not much different. We’re all just kids trying to have fun and play the game.” His teammate, Pasala Ioane joined in: “I’ve been playing Volleyball since 6th grade, so 5 years. This is my first AWG. I’ve learned about teamwork and the support you get from your peers. I haven’t played yet, but I will soon. I’m pumped, excited, waiting!” After a full day of volleyball, Team Alaska and Team Alberta North lead the female teams with 3 wins each; Team Yukon is in the lead for males with three wins, followed closely by Team Alaska and Alberta North. The competition continues through the week with final medal rounds Friday evening. Stay tuned!

As I entered Teeland Middle School to cover today’s wrestling match, I wasn't sure what to expect. This was my first time watching wrestling. After watching the first few periods, the concept seemed pretty easy to grasp. If you’re not familiar with the intricacies of competitive wrestling, the goal is to force your opponent to land on their back on the mat, and hold them there for a minimum of three seconds to secure a win. Wrestlers score extra points by taking down their opponent throughout the match, flipping them onto their back. What I witnessed today was much more than just a competition – I saw athletes having fun in their element, playing a sport they clearly love. Each wrestling match was organized by weight class, athletes paired up, shook hands, and began the competition. Being the first wrestling event of the 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games, this was the moment the competitors found out who their opponent would be for the rest of the week. With each introduction, I could tell by the wrestlers’ body language that their determination kicked up a notch. (It was honestly fascinating to watch.) As pair after pair met on the mat for two two-minute periods, the crowd grew more invested. Team members sat close to the edge of their seats. The energy in the stands was electrifying! Seven pairs wrestled between Northwest Territories and Alaska and each competitor gave their all into today's matches. Northwest Territories walked away with two match wins and no forfeits. Alaska wrapped with five wins and two forfeits. After the game, Shawn Flannagan of Team Alaska noted that of all the wrestling matches, the first match of an event is always the most nerve-racking. "Switching from collegiate to freestyle wrestling was fun. Exploring a new style was unique.” "Coach reminds us to wrestle our own match," noted Team Alaska’s Infinity-Ann Asiaga-Higa. “Coach always says ‘don't let them get in your head.’" As the team summoned their confidence for the next match against Team Alberta North, Corbin Lutz of Team Alaska chimed in. "They said Canadians are different…they're stronger than they look." Want to check out the next wrestling match for yourself? Head over to Teeland Middle School on Tuesday at 14:00 (2pm) and see if those Canadian competitors really are as strong as rumors imply.